Top OSHA Violations in Construction & How to Avoid Them

The construction industry is built on precision, skill, and hard work. It's also an environment where safety cannot be an afterthought. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets the standards that protect workers from the numerous hazards on a job site. Yet, every year, OSHA releases a list of its most frequently cited violations, and many of the same issues appear year after year, particularly in construction.

Understanding this list is more than a compliance exercise; it's a roadmap to a safer workplace. These common violations highlight the areas where companies consistently fall short, often leading to serious injuries or fatalities. This post will explore the top OSHA violations in construction, explain why they are so common, and provide actionable steps your company can take to avoid them. By focusing on these critical areas, you can enhance safety, protect your workers, and build a stronger, more resilient company.

Why Do These Violations Keep Happening?

Before diving into the list, it's helpful to understand the root causes. Many of the most cited violations stem from a few common issues: inadequate training, lack of proper equipment, pressure to meet deadlines, and insufficient supervision. Often, it's a combination of these factors that creates a hazardous environment. A shortcut taken to save time or a piece of faulty equipment that isn't taken out of service can have devastating consequences. Recognizing these patterns is the first step toward breaking the cycle and prioritizing safety.

OSHA's Most Cited Construction Violations

While the exact order can shift slightly each year, the top of the list remains remarkably consistent. Let's break down the most common violations and how to address them.

1. Fall Protection—General Requirements (1926.501)

For over a decade, fall protection has been the number one most cited OSHA violation. Falls are the leading cause of death in construction, making this a critical area of focus. The standard requires employers to provide fall protection for any employee working on a walking/working surface with an unprotected side or edge that is 6 feet or more above a lower level.

Common Scenarios:

• Workers on a roof or upper-story floor without guardrails or personal fall arrest systems.

• Employees working near an unprotected excavation or hole.

• Failing to provide protection on scaffolds, aerial lifts, or ladders.

How to Avoid This Violation:

• Plan Ahead: Before work begins, perform a hazard assessment to identify all potential fall hazards.

• Provide Proper Equipment: Ensure guardrail systems, safety nets, or Personal Fall Arrest Systems (PFAS) are available and used correctly.

• Train Your Team: Workers must be trained on how to properly use fall protection equipment, including how to inspect it, wear it, and anchor it correctly.

• Install Covers: Securely cover and label all holes in floors and roofs.

2. Hazard Communication (1910.1200)

Known as the "HazCom" standard, this rule requires employers to inform and train employees about the hazardous chemicals they work with. Violations often occur because of a lack of a written program, improper labeling of containers, or missing Safety Data Sheets (SDS).

Common Scenarios:

• Chemicals are transferred into unmarked secondary containers.

• An SDS is not readily accessible to workers for a chemical used on site.

• Employees have not been trained on the specific hazards of chemicals they handle.

How to Avoid This Violation:

• Create a Written Plan: Develop and maintain a written hazard communication program that details how your company will meet the standard's requirements.

• Maintain an SDS Library: Keep an updated and easily accessible file of Safety Data Sheets for every hazardous chemical on the job site.

• Label Everything: Ensure all chemical containers are properly labeled with the product identifier and a hazard warning.

• Conduct Thorough Training: Train employees on how to read labels and SDSs, the hazards of the chemicals in their work area, and how to protect themselves.

3. Scaffolding (1926.451)

Scaffolding is used on job sites everywhere, but when constructed or used improperly, it can lead to catastrophic collapses or falls. The standard covers everything from scaffold design and construction to employee access and fall protection.

Common Scenarios:

• Scaffolding is not erected on stable, level ground.

• Planking is not fully decked or secured, creating trip and fall hazards.

• Lack of guardrails on scaffolds more than 10 feet high.

• Using a scaffold that has not been inspected by a competent person.

How to Avoid This Violation:

• Supervision by a Competent Person: A "competent person" must oversee the erection, moving, and dismantling of all scaffolds. This individual is trained to identify existing and predictable hazards.

• Proper Construction: Ensure scaffolds are built on solid footing, are fully planked, and can support their own weight plus four times the maximum intended load.

• Use Guardrails and Toeboards: Install guardrails on all open sides of platforms 10 feet or higher. Toeboards prevent tools and materials from falling on workers below.

• Daily Inspections: The competent person must inspect scaffolds daily before each work shift to ensure they remain in safe condition.

4. Ladders (1926.1053)

Ladders are so common that workers can become complacent about their use. However, using the wrong type of ladder, placing it incorrectly, or over-reaching can easily lead to a fall.

Common Scenarios:

• Using a ladder with broken rungs or other visible defects.

• Setting up an extension ladder at an improper angle (not 4:1).

• Standing on the top step or top cap of a stepladder.

• Using a metal ladder near overhead power lines.

How to Avoid This Violation:

• Choose the Right Ladder: Use a ladder that is the proper height and type for the job.

• Inspect Before Use: Always inspect a ladder for damage before climbing it. If it's defective, tag it "Do Not Use" and remove it from service.

• Maintain Three Points of Contact: Always keep either two hands and one foot, or two feet and one hand, in contact with the ladder when climbing or descending.

• Proper Setup: Place ladders on stable, level surfaces. For extension ladders, secure them and ensure they extend at least 3 feet above the upper landing surface.

5. Fall Protection—Training Requirements (1926.503)

This citation is separate from the general fall protection standard and focuses specifically on training. OSHA can cite an employer if they fail to provide the necessary training for every employee who might be exposed to a fall hazard.

Common Scenarios:

• A new hire starts work without receiving any fall protection training.

• Workers are using fall arrest systems but have not been trained on how to inspect or wear them.

• The employer cannot produce certification records that training was completed.

How to Avoid This Violation:

• Train Everyone: Ensure every employee who may face a fall hazard is trained by a qualified person.

• Document Everything: Keep detailed records of all training sessions, including the topics covered, the date, and the names of employees who attended.

• Provide Refresher Training: Conduct retraining when there are changes in the workplace, new types of fall protection are introduced, or an employee’s actions show they do not understand the procedures.

Building a Culture of Compliance and Safety

Avoiding these top violations requires more than just a checklist. It demands a commitment to building a culture where safety is a core value. This starts with leadership setting the tone and investing in the necessary resources.

Actionable Steps for Your Company:

1. Conduct Regular Inspections: Have competent persons perform daily and weekly inspections of your job site, equipment, and safety procedures.

2. Invest in Ongoing Training: Don't treat safety training as a one-time event. Use toolbox talks and regular safety meetings to reinforce key principles.

3. Empower Your Employees: Encourage workers to report hazards without fear of retaliation. An empowered team is your best defense against accidents.

4. Stay Informed: Keep up with changes to OSHA standards and learn from industry incidents to improve your own safety programs.

By proactively addressing the most common violations, you are not just aiming for compliance—you are taking meaningful steps to ensure every worker goes home safely at the end of the day.

About Must Be Safety

Must Be Safety, LLC is dedicated to helping organizations build safer workplaces through OSHA-authorized training, expert safety consulting, and practical compliance solutions. Their certified instructors offer both on-site and online courses—including OSHA 10- and 30-Hour Construction—and hands-on equipment and first aid training. Available in both English and Spanish, their programs are designed to empower diverse teams and improve safety outcomes.

Take the next step toward a safer, more compliant work environment. Visit www.mustbesafety.com to learn more or to schedule your training and consultation today.